Temperature Illusion: Definition, History and Characteristics
Temperature illusion is a phenomenon that occurs when the perception of temperature differs from the actual temperature. This discrepancy may be caused by a variety of external factors, such as the environment, physical contact, air flow, or even emotions. Temperature illusion has been studied since antiquity, and it has been found to have a variety of applications in psychology, physiology, and neuroscience.
Definition
Temperature illusion is defined as the discrepancy between actual temperature and perceived temperature. This discrepancy can occur due to a variety of external stimuli, such as the environment, physical contact, air flow, or emotions. This illusion may be caused by a variety of physiological and psychological processes, such as the perception of heat or cold, the body’s thermoregulatory response, or the cognitive effects of an individual’s expectations.
History
Temperature illusion has been studied since antiquity. In the 4th century BCE, Aristotle suggested that the perception of temperature may differ from the actual temperature. In the 17th century, Francis Bacon proposed that the feeling of warmth or coldness is subjective and can be influenced by the environment. In the 19th century, Gustav Fechner proposed that the perception of temperature is affected by the body’s thermoregulatory response. In the 20th century, researchers began to focus on the role of expectations and cognitive processes in the perception of temperature.
Characteristics
Temperature illusion is primarily characterized by a discrepancy between perceived temperature and actual temperature. This discrepancy can be caused by external stimuli, such as the environment, physical contact, air flow, or emotions. Temperature illusion may also be caused by a variety of physiological and psychological processes, such as the perception of heat or cold, the body’s thermoregulatory response, or the cognitive effects of expectations.
References
Fechner, G. (1860). Elements of psychophysics. Leipzig, Germany: Breitkopf & Hartel.
James, W. (1890). The principles of psychology. New York: Holt.
Klein, S. A., & Berbaum, K. S. (1990). Temperature illusions: A review of the literature. Perception & Psychophysics, 48(3), 287-294.
Lang, P. J., & Bradley, M. M. (2010). Emotion and the motivational brain: Cognitive and neural mechanisms. In J. T. Cacioppo, L. G. Tassinary, & G. G. Berntson (Eds.), Handbook of psychophysiology (3rd ed., pp. 602-639). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
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